Money spent on research is almost always a good investment 31. Money spent on research is almost always a good investment, even when the results of that research are controversial. Is money spent o

carrie

Money spent on research is almost always a good investment 31. Money spent on research is almost always a good investment, even when the results of that research are controversial. Is money spent on alchemy study a good investment? Is financing chemical weapons which lead to massacre a good idea? Definitely not. Over the span of human history, we would find countless examples of bad investment. However, the speaker is trying to tell us that all kinds of investment on research will always be good ones, no matter how controversial and excruciating the results are. I can barely agree with his irresponsible opinion for mainly two reasons. First of all, a financed research will pay back only if it has a solid theoretic foundation. Otherwise, all the efforts and money will turn out to be in vain. Take research of ‘perpetual motion machine’ -----a mechanical system which sustains motion indefinitely without losing energy to friction----- for example, from the 12th century till the 18th, government and scientists invested abundant capital into this area but instead got nothing at all. All blame for the failure must attach to weakness in the theory. Since the principle of this research violates the law of conservation of energy, which implies that such machine will never be finished. A study without convincible foundation is just castle in air and thus leads to a futile investment. Secondly, we should carefully evaluate the possible results of studies before lay out money in them in case we develop techniques which conflict with human moral standards and cause worldwide panic. For instance, the human clone technology has been met by a storm of protest for it put human into an ethic dilemma. Not mention a-bomb and Weapons of Mass Destruction researches which harm the security of people. All these extremely controversial researches reveal the brutality and greedy of human nature and thus might probably result in catastrophe. I admit that it’s somehow crucial to encourage researches. Anyway, it’s our hunger after knowledge and tireless exploring the unknown area that gives a boost to our civilization. We should definitely put money in researches which improve life of mankind and enlighten people of laws of the world. In sum, not all the money put into research turn out to be good investment especially when it comes to those without reasoned arguments or those with potential dangers. Although sometime bad results come back inevitably, we should never stop financing researches which have great potentials.

Jun 18, 2013 9:36 AM

Corrections · 2

Money spent on research is almost always a good investment

31. Money spent on research is almost always a good investment, even when the results of that research are negative controversial.

Is money spent on alchemy study a good investment? Is financing chemical weapons which lead to massacre a good idea? Definitely not. Over the span of human history, we would find countless examples of bad investment. However, the speaker is trying to tell us that all kinds of investment on in research will always be good ones, no matter how controversial and excruciating the results are. (NO HE'S NOT!) I can barely agree with his irresponsible opinion for mainly two reasons.

First of all, a financed research will pay back only if it has a solid theoretic foundation. Otherwise, nearly all the efforts and money will turn out to be in vain. Take research of ‘perpetual motion machine’ -----a mechanical system which sustains motion indefinitely without losing energy to friction----- for example, from the 12th century till the 18th, government and scientists invested abundant capital into this area but instead got nothing at all. All blame for the failure must attach to weakness in the theory. (But great improvements in the efficiency of engines DID result!) Since the principle of this research violates the law of conservation of energy, which implies that such machine will never be finished. A study without sound convincible foundation is just 'castles in the air' and thus leads to a futile investment. (Partial solutions and improvements are still sound and fruitful investments)

Secondly, we should carefully evaluate the possible results of studies before we outlay lay out money or time or resources on in them in case we develop techniques which conflict with human moral standards and cause worldwide panic. For instance, the human clone technology has been met by a storm of protest for it put human into an ethic dilemma (but it is hugely important and beneficial too). Not mention a-bomb and Weapons of Mass Destruction researches which harm the security of people. All these such extremely controversial researches reveal the brutality and greedy of human nature and thus might probably result in catastrophe.

I admit that it’s somehow crucial to encourage researches. Anyway, it’s our hunger after knowledge and tireless exploring the unknown area that gives a boost to our civilization. We should definitely put money in researches which improve life of mankind and enlighten people of laws of the world.

In sum, not all the money put into research turn out to be good investment especially when it comes to those without reasoned arguments or those with potential dangers. Although sometime bad results come back inevitably, we should never stop financing researches which have great potentials.

Your conclusions are ok, finally. But your arguments getting there are shrill and not balanced. For every negative conclusion there is a positive dual finding. What is eliminated is a proof of what may be too.

June 21, 2013

Money invested in research is not so much investment as 'funding'; without such funding, many of the great medical and scientific and technological discoveries of the last century may not have happened, or may have happened only much later. Research funding is high risk, it is a huge gamble, and the investor must be prepared for likely loss. But in the human sense it is essential.

June 21, 2013

Want to progress faster?

Join this learning community and try out free exercises!